In short
- Colour: whitening. Shape, chips and small gaps: bonding or veneers.
- Weak or broken teeth: crowns. Crooked teeth: braces or aligners.
- Whitening takes an hour to a few weeks; braces take a year or more.
- Healthy teeth and gums come first, so most plans start with a check-up.
Which cosmetic treatment fits what you want to change?
| What bothers you | Option | Time | How long it lasts | Kathmandu prices (Oct 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow or dull teeth | Teeth whitening | About 1 hour in the clinic, or 2 to 6 weeks at home (NHS) | Around 3 years, less with tea, coffee or tobacco | NPR 8,000 to 22,000 |
| A chip, small gap or one dark tooth | Composite bonding | One visit, 30 to 60 minutes a tooth (Cleveland Clinic) | 3 to 10 years | NPR 5,000 to 10,000 per tooth |
| Several uneven or stained front teeth | Porcelain veneers | 2 or more visits | 95.5% in place at 10 years (Alenezi et al. 2021) | NPR 15,000 to 25,000 per tooth |
| A broken, weak or root-filled tooth | Crowns | Usually 2 visits | Depends on material | From NPR 6,500 per tooth (metal-ceramic) |
| Crooked, crowded or gapped teeth | Braces or clear aligners | 1 to 2 years for braces (NHS) | Retainer needed after | NPR 30,000 to 400,000 |
Prices are published Kathmandu Valley clinic prices checked in October 2026; most clinic pages were not dated. See our own on the price list.
Our clinic is in Jhamsikhel, Lalitpur. Most cosmetic plans start with a check-up and a cleaning, because decay and gum problems need treating first. A dentist needs to examine you to know which option suits your teeth.
Teeth whitening
Whitening uses a bleaching gel to lighten the colour of natural teeth, in the clinic or at home with custom trays. It does not change crowns, false teeth or fillings (NHS). Sensitivity is the common side effect and usually passes. Read the guide to teeth whitening in Kathmandu: in-clinic vs take-home.
Composite bonding and porcelain veneers
Bonding shapes tooth-coloured resin onto a tooth in one visit, usually without removing enamel. Porcelain veneers are thin lab-made shells that last longer and stain less, but often need a thin layer of enamel removed. Read veneers and composite bonding: options and cost.
Crowns
A crown is a cap that covers the whole tooth. It suits teeth that are broken, heavily filled or root-filled, where a veneer would not give enough protection. Read about dental crowns.
Braces and clear aligners
If teeth are crooked or crowded, moving them is often better than covering them. Compare braces and clear aligners for teeth straightening, or go straight to braces or clear aligners.
Planning around a wedding date
Mangsir, Magh and Falgun are the main wedding months this year. The 2083 saait dates run from 25 November to 12 December 2026, 18 January to 10 February 2027, and 15 February to 14 March 2027 (Merokalam). Work back from your date:
| Treatment | Start at least |
|---|---|
| Cleaning | 1 to 2 weeks before |
| Whitening (take-home) | 4 to 6 weeks before, so sensitivity can settle |
| Bonding | 2 weeks before, in case it needs a tweak |
| Porcelain veneers | 8 weeks before, with whitening first |
| Braces or aligners | A year or more before, or plan them for after the wedding |
Do things in order: cleaning, then whitening, then bonding, veneers or crowns matched to the new shade. If the date is close, a cleaning and whitening may be all you need for now.
Sources
- Teeth whitening, NHS (2025)
- Dental bonding, Cleveland Clinic (2026)
- Factors affecting the survival of porcelain veneers: a systematic review (Alenezi et al.), Journal of Clinical Medicine (2021)
- Orthodontics (braces), NHS (2026)
- Nepali calendar marriage dates 2083, Merokalam (2026)
